VETINUITY
Does cefpodoxime treat MRSP?
No. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is resistant to all beta-lactams, cefpodoxime included. Culture any pyoderma that fails a first-tier course.
● ANSWER
Sourced & dated
What is the cefpodoxime dose for dogs and cats?
Cefpodoxime is labeled at 5-10 mg/kg PO once daily for skin infections in dogs; cat use is extra-label at a similar dose, and the once-daily schedule is its main advantage.
● VETINUITY CEFPODOXIME DOSE CALCULATOR
Vetinuity cefpodoxime dose calculator
Tablets are 100 and 200 mg and are scored; round to the nearest half tablet within the 5-10 mg/kg range.
● WHAT'S DOCUMENTED
Vetinuity’s cefpodoxime dose table gives dogs 5 to 10 mg/kg by mouth once a day, the labeled dose for skin infections (wounds, abscesses and pyoderma), and gives cats the same 5 mg/kg once daily as extra-label use. The calculator above rounds to the scored 100 and 200 mg tablets.
Cefpodoxime doses by indication
| Indication | Dog | Cat | Route and frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superficial pyoderma, first tier | 5-10 mg/kg | not applicable | PO q24h, until 1 week past clinical cure |
| Wounds and abscesses (labeled skin infections) | 5-10 mg/kg | 5 mg/kg | PO q24h, 5-7 days beyond resolution |
| Sporadic cystitis when culture supports it | 5-10 mg/kg | 5-10 mg/kg | PO q24h, 3-5 days |
Why once daily works
Cefpodoxime proxetil is a prodrug that is absorbed and converted to cefpodoxime, which binds plasma proteins more than cephalexin. In a pharmacokinetic comparison in dogs, Papich and colleagues found that the longer persistence of cefpodoxime supported once-daily dosing, while cephalexin needed two or three doses a day. For an owner pilling a large dog for three weeks of pyoderma, that difference matters for compliance.
Place in pyoderma therapy
The ISCAID superficial folliculitis guidelines list third-generation oral cephalosporins such as cefpodoxime among first-tier choices when systemic therapy is needed, alongside cephalexin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, and they push topical therapy first or alongside. Treat until a week past clinical resolution, and culture lesions that recur or fail to improve after 2 weeks.
Key cautions
Vomiting, diarrhea and inappetence are the common effects. Avoid it in animals with a known cephalosporin or penicillin allergy. Give with food if GI upset occurs; absorption is acceptable either way. It has no useful activity against Pseudomonas or methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Vetinuity, the clinical assistant made by Brian Toncray, DVM, an ER veterinarian, links this page with the other first-tier skin antimicrobials.
Related: amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefovecin, cefazolin and Apoquel vs Cytopoint.
● SOURCES
- 1. Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). Vet Dermatol. 2014;25(3):163-e43. PMID 24720433. First-tier antimicrobials: third-generation cephalosporins. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 2. Papich MG, Davis JL, Floerchinger AM. Pharmacokinetics, protein binding, and tissue distribution of orally administered cefpodoxime proxetil and cephalexin in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2010;71(12):1484-1491. PMID 21118001. Results and conclusions. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 3. DailyMed: Simplicef (cefpodoxime proxetil) label search. Dosage and administration. Checked 2026-10-26.
● RELATED ANSWERS
- Amoxicillin-Clavulanate (Clavamox) Dose, Dogs and Cats
The label dose of amoxicillin-clavulanate is 13.75 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs and 62.5 mg per cat q12h; ISCAID guidelines use 12.5-25 mg/kg q12h for urinary and skin infections.
- Cefovecin (Convenia) Dose for Dogs and Cats
Cefovecin is a single 8 mg/kg subcutaneous injection in dogs and cats (1 mL per 10 kg of the 80 mg/mL solution) that keeps working for about two weeks and cannot be withdrawn once given.
- Cefazolin Dose for Dogs and Cats, Surgical Prophylaxis
Cefazolin is given at 22 mg/kg IV within 60 minutes before incision and repeated every 90-120 minutes during surgery; for treatment it is 22 mg/kg IV every 8 hours in dogs and cats.
- Canine Atopic Dermatitis: Apoquel, Cytopoint, and Treatment Options
Oclacitinib cut atopic pruritus within 24 h and, at 2 mg/kg, lokivetmab separated from placebo on owner-assessed pruritus from day 1 through day 49 in pivotal RCTs; direct head-to-head evidence remains thin.
- Prednisolone Dose for Dogs and Cats
Prednisolone is dosed at 0.5-1 mg/kg/day for inflammation and 2 mg/kg/day for immunosuppression in dogs, and 1-2 mg/kg/day and 2-4 mg/kg/day in cats, which should get prednisolone rather than prednisone.
● FAQ
How does cefpodoxime differ from cephalexin?
Both cover staphylococci, but cefpodoxime has a longer half-life in dogs, allowing once-daily dosing, and somewhat better gram-negative activity.
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